Origin
The illegitimate son of an American serviceman and an Australian housewife, George Harkness was raised in rural Australia by his mother and stepfather. Impoverished throughout his early life and hated by his stepfather, who suspected that the boy was not his, George discovered a natural talent with the boomerang, which he honed throughout his early adolescence. He turned to crime at an early age, using his boomerangs to rob a store. As a result, his stepfather threw him out, and his mother bought him a plane ticket to Central City so he could find his father, the toy magnate W.W. Wiggins. He auditioned to be the spokesman for Wiggins’ new toy line, and gained the identity of Captain Boomerang. Initially planning to keep on the straight and narrow, he soon returned to crime.
Creation
Captain Boomerang was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino. He made his first appearance in The Flash #117. The character was significantly redesigned by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.
Character Evolution
Silver Age
The Silver Age introduced the outline of his presumed current origin. In his initial appearances, Boomerang was not related to Wiggins.
Modern Age
The Modern Age introduced his relationship with Wiggins, as well as his less savoury personality characteristics. He was briefly capable of creating energy constructs following his resurrection, but lost this ability. As his death has since been written out of continuity, he now never had the ability.
Major Story Arcs
Boomerang
Captain Boomerang frequently clashes with the Flash, constantly devising new boomerangs in an attempt to finally defeat his enemy. During this time he frequently works alongside the Rogues.
Suicide Squad
Boomerang is recruited by Amanda Waller to join the Suicide Squad, with the promise that at the end of his service he will be pardoned and set free. He is a difficult and rebellious teammate, and none of his peers like or trust him. He joins the team in several successful missions, but also causes many problems for them. He gets captured and almost executed by G Gordon Godfrey during a crime spree, necessitating a rescue. He allows his teammate Mindboggler to be shot as revenge for her having humiliated him, and convinces fellow team member Slipknot to attempt to escape in order to observe the effect of the explosive bracelets they have been fitted with. He takes up the identity of his deceased friend Mirror Master to continue committing crime, but is discovered by Waller, who takes away his privileges. He is forced to remain with the team until it disbands.
Underworld Unleashed
Boomerang and four other Rogues are approached by Abra Kadabra, who offers them the chance to become real villains. He sells his soul to Neron, but is double-crossed and killed in order to facilitate Neron’s arrival on Earth. His soul is sent to Hell, and his body is returned to Earth as a soulless killing machine. He is restored to his body when Neron is defeated.
Identity Crisis
Finding himself drifting towards obsolescence, Boomerang reconnects with his long-abandoned son Owen Mercer. The two bond for a time before Boomerang is hired to kill Jack Drake. He succeeds, but is himself shot and killed by Drake, as the person who had hired him had also sent a warning and a pistol to Drake.
Rogue War
During the Rogue War, his body is recovered by James Jesse, who attempts to revive him in order to extract the Rogues’ location from him. He is successfully returned to life in the presence of Ashley Zolomon. He asks her to tell his son that he loves him, and to keep his mother’s identity hidden. He dies again shortly thereafter.
Blackest Night
Boomerang is risen from the dead by a Black Lantern ring. He joins several Batman villains and family members in attacking Batman and Red Robin. He later joins his fellow dead Rogues in Iron Heights, where they battle with the living Rogues. He is rescued from the fighting by his son, who believes that he can resurrect his father if he allows him to feed enough. He kills several people before they are found by the other Rogues. Captain Cold pushes Owen into the pit with Boomerang, and freezes them both after Boomerang kills his son. Boomerang escapes and joins in the final battle, where he is suddenly resurrected. He is knocked unconscious by the Flash.
Brightest Day
Imprisoned in Iron Heights, he finds that he is able to create boomerangs out of pure energy, which he uses to escape. Overwhelmed by his new powers and lashing out at both friend and foe, he is repeatedly visited by the Entity, which encourages him to throw a boomerang at Dove in an attempt to free Hawk from the Lords of Chaos. He does so, and his life is restored to him, though he loses his Lantern powers.
Kicked in the Teeth
Boomerang is brought into the Suicide Squad as its new field commander. He is given the detonator to the nanite bombs that all team members have been implanted with. Sent after the terrorist group Basilisk, he soon discovers that he has been brought onto the team as a bargaining chip only, as he once killed Grey Lora’s sister. He attempts to deploy the nanite bombs, but his detonator is a fake. Later it is revealed that he is a member of Basilisk who aids in the capture and imprisonment of his former colleagues. Later still he is revealed as a double agent, as he frees the Squad. In a subsequent fight with the terrorists he is knocked unconscious by the traitor Black Spider.
Forever Evil
Boomerang is recruited by Deadshot and Harley Quinn to carry out a directive issued by Amanda Waller, who is under attack by the Thinker following the Crime Syndicate’s arrival. He travels with them to the Rocky Mountains, where they locate OMAC. Following a fight with the group sent by the impostor Waller and Harley Quinn’s betrayal, he and the others are buried under several tonnes of rocks. Escaping, he and the others return to Belle Reve, now under attack by the Thinker in OMAC’s body. Shortly after Kevin Kho takes over the body and ends the threat Boomerang pushes him into a portal to an unknown destination, believing him to still be the Thinker.
New Suicide Squad
Boomerang is called up once again to act as a member of the Suicide Squad, accompanying the group on several covert missions. He is with the team when Amanda Waller takes them off the grid in order to combat the machinations of Vic Sage. He returns with the team to Belle Reve, and joins in the fight with Black Manta, who easily defeats him until he is shot through the wrist by Deadshot. While waiting for the guards to take Manta into custody, Boomerang takes the opportunity to worsen his wound with a boomerang as revenge for Manta’s treatment of him.
The Black Vault and Going Sane
Boomerang is apparently killed by General Zod during a team mission to Russia. His consciousness tags along with new teammate Hack, however, and she is able to reconstitute him during an attack on Zod.
Alternate Versions
Tangent
Captain Boomerang is a disenfranchised pilot named Adam Clay whose family was killed by the Japanese in Burma.
Kingdom Come
Harkness appears as an older man in this alternate future.
Injustice
Boomerang and several other Rogues briefly appear battling Cyborg
Powers and Abilities
Captain Boomerang has no known superhuman powers or abilities. He is very skilled in the use of boomerangs, and capable of designing a variety of weaponized boomerangs despite relatively little schooling in the area. He is a capable hand to hand fighter.
Equipment and Weapons
Captain Boomerang wields a number of enhanced boomerangs. Common boomerangs include explosive, collapsible, electric, weighted, acidic, and razor.
Characteristics
- Height: 5’9″
- Weight: 167 lbs
- Eyes: Brown
- Hair: Red
Status
- Identity: Secret Identity
- Occupation: Criminal, assassin, mercenary
- Citizenship: Australian
- Place of Birth: Kurrumburra, Australia
- Marital Status: Single
- Known Relatives: Owen Mercer (son)
Other Media
Television
Justice League Unlimited
Boomerang appears in the episode “Task Force X” as a member of the newly-formed Suicide Squad. Later, apparently declared reformed, he appears n the episode “Flash and Substance” alongside several other Rogues, all plotting to destroy the Flash. He is voiced by Donal Gibson.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Boomerang makes a cameo appearance in the episode “Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!” He also appears in “Four Star Spectacular!” initially complimenting Batman’s batarangs, and ultimately defeated by Flash. He is voiced by John DiMaggio.
Arrow
Boomerang makes several appearances in this show, making his first appearance in “Draw Back Your Bow.” He is described as a former Australian Secret Intelligence Service agent and Suicide Squad member. He is portrayed by Nick Tarabay.
Film
Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Superheroes Unite
Boomerang makes a cameo appearance in this film.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Boomerang appears alongside several other Rogues. He attacks the Flash, but is later betrayed by Professor Zoom, who attaches an irremovable bomb to him. He is saved by Justice League members. Later, he is briefly seen in the distorted timeline battling Citizen Cold. He is voiced by James Patrick Stuart.
Batman: Assault on Arkham
Boomerang appears as a member of the Suicide Squad. He has a competitive relationship with Deadshot, who abandons him in Arkham. He is voiced by Greg Ellis.
Suicide Squad
Boomerang appears as a member of the Squad, and minor protagonist. He is portrayed by Jai Courtney.
Video Games
DC Universe Online
Boomerang appears in the Hall of Doom as a tech dealer. He is voiced by J. Shannon Weaver.
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Boomerang appears as both a boss and an unlockable character in Arkham Asylum. He is voiced by Nolan North.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Boomerang appears in this game. He does not speak in his appearance.